2nd Opinion: Missions requires response to God

Posted: 9/02/05

2nd Opinion: Missions requires response to God

By Carolyn Porterfield

It was one of those opportunities I relish–speaking to ministerial students about the place of missions in the church. I was noting that as Christ-followers, we are to “go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” A student on about the second row said under his breath, “Well, that is just your opinion.” And before I considered how it would sound, I replied, “No, that is Mark 16:15.”

From our beginnings, Texas Baptists have been a people guided by God's word who believed deeply that we are to go to anyone, anywhere and share the good news of Jesus' gift of salvation. It is not a human opinion or a program, but rather the mission of God for the church.

When Christ gave the Great Commission, it was given to the whole church, not just a certain segment of the church. Acts 1:8 lays out the strategy that we are to use: Empowered by the Spirit, we are to be witnesses–beginning where we are and not stopping until we've touched the ends of the earth. In our own state, we do not have to leave our borders to touch the nations. God is bringing the nations to us!

On Sept. 12, Texas Baptists will again focus on Texas missions as we consider the vast mission field in which we live and how we can minister together by joining our resources through the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions. I have a great vision that all (and I do mean all!) Texas Baptists will awaken to the mission of God and mature as true disciples as they come to understand the strategic role they play in sharing the gospel in Texas. And that vision extends beyond our state, because I also believe God wants and can use Texas Baptists to extend his kingdom to the ends of the earth.

In years gone by, we would describe churches as “missions-minded.” That usually meant offerings were given, prayers were prayed and encouragement was offered to the missionaries who were sent out from our churches. We still need those things today, but “missions-minded” is not enough in our world today. The challenge is for “missions-engaged” churches–those that will move to the frontlines of missions and bless every member of their church to go outside the church walls to minister in Christ's name.

Texas affords every Texas Baptist that opportunity. It has been said that more than 10 million Texans need a personal relationship with Christ. If every Texas Baptist would just reach one of those 10 million, our state would be dramatically different.

Over the years, I have come to believe more strongly that Texas missions is what every Texas Baptist does, not just a few Texas missionaries. Money given to the Mary Hill Davis Offering flows throughout the state to enable churches to start other churches, to assist with creation of Christian Women's/Men's Job Corps sites, to do recreation ministries at parks and recreational facilities, to meet physical needs of Texans who find help through local-church ministries, to establish medical clinics along the Rio Grande and so much more. Every dollar given to meet the $5 million goal helps a fellow Texas Baptist to be on mission. And every time we don't meet the offering goal means a ministry will not receive what it needs for the following year.

Our involvement in missions is a response to what we believe about God's mission and the nature of his body, the church. We are called to go. We are called to be witnesses of God's work in our own lives through Jesus Christ. We are empowered with a power that created the universe, gives life and forgives sin. God has even laid out the strategy for our going. He has provided all that is needed. What is lacking is our loving response to him.

Carolyn Porterfield is the executive director-treasurer of Woman's Missionary Union of Texas.